LEES COURT

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1363416
Date first listed:: 27-Aug-1952
List Entry Name:: LEES COURT
Statutory Address:: LEES COURT

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1363416
Date first listed:: 27-Aug-1952
List Entry Name:: LEES COURT
Statutory Address 1:: LEES COURT

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: LEES COURT

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Kent
District:: Swale (District Authority)
Parish:: Sheldwich
National Grid Reference:: TR 02036 56066

Details

TR 05 NW SHELDWICH LEES COURT

1/97 Lees Court 27.8.52 GV I

House, now flats. Completed c.1652 for Sir George Sondes, rebuilt 1912. Reconstruction by Edward Hoare and Montague Wheeler. Brick, rendered, with pilaster bases and capitals and doorcase of ashlar. Slated roof. Built, following a pre C17 plan around a courtyard. Two storeys, of 13 bays separated by giant Ionic pilasters, with moulded bases, and large swags between volutes of capitals. Entablature with enriched cornice brackets to large overhanging eaves and hipped roof with 8 stacks ranged on ridge and to rear. Regular fenestration of 13 glazing bar sashes on each floor, without surrounds or mouldings. The centre 4 on ground floor are raised slightly. Central half-glazed door with moulded stone surround, and scrolled pediment, enriched, enclosing central cartouche. Right return: constructed 1912 by Hoare as new entrance frontin Baroque style. Large Doric portico in 2 stages, with large Venetian window to left. Rear courtyard, reconstructed 1912, domestic in character. Interior: entirely rebuilt 1912, and since converted to flats. Entrance hall with internal arcaded porch, and Doric screens to rear of hall and Ionic screen (now infilled) at head of stairs. Heavy wooden staircase on Imperial plan, with pendant newels and pierced balustrades with heraldic heasts. Central hall, behind front entrance, with ceiling reproducing C17 design, but lowered, with cross-beams and large central oval, all enriched. The amount of structural reconstruction is difficult to assess, but the front facade seems to be original, certainly the bases of the pilasters have molten lead on them fron the fire of 1911 which destroyed the house. Interiors and roof certainly rebuilt. Attributed to Inigo Jones (Hasted) or John Webb (C. Hussey, 1922). The use of a giant order, the impurity of proportion and the Ionic capitals, the irregularity of planning suggest neither of these architects. Hussey compared interiors of original with Thorpe Hall, Northants; c.1653-6. The swagged capitals are alsoused internally there and externallyat Lindsey House, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, c.1640, both buildings associated with Peter Mills bricklayer and architect in the City of London. He also built the central block at Cobham Hall, with giant pilasters, and similar doorcase (See B.0.E. Kent I, 233). Sir George Sondes's connections were with the City of London, marrying the daughter of a Lord Mayor. The peculiar form of roof appears to be a compromise for the original intention of a balustraded roof with higher pitched hip. (See Badeslade's engraving in Harris's History of Kent, 1719). The gardens laid out 1908 onwards by Thomas Mawson, and illustrated in "The Art and Craft of Garden Making" (See Country Life, August 12th and August 19th 1922; See also B.O.E. Kent II 1983, 370-1).

Listing NGR: TR0167955885

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 176895
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Harris, J, The History of Kent in 5 parts, (1719)
Hasted, E, History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, (1799)
Hasted, E, History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, (1801)
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: North East and East Kent, (1983), 233
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: North East and East Kent, (1983), 370-1
'Country Life' in 12 August, (1922)
'Country Life' in 19 August, (1922)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.